The preschool teacher accused last week of fondling a 4-year-old student during nap time is back behind bars facing a more serious charge. ...more

June 11, 2008

Seven women and five men will decide whether movies distributed by a Hollywood movie producer who uses the name Max Hardcore violate the standards of the Tampa area community and are criminally obscene. ...more

May 28, 2008

TAMPA - Seven women and five men will decide whether movies distributed by a Hollywood movie producer who uses the name Max Hardcore are criminally obscene, that is, whether they violate the standards of the Tampa area community. ...more

May 27, 2008

SARASOTA - Jesse Knowlin, 24, was hired this year by Wilkinson Elementary School and abruptly resigned Tuesday -- saying in a letter to the principal and district officials that he "violated" two teenage boys he met at church. ...more

May 23, 2008

SARASOTA — Jesse Knowlin wanted to become a teacher's aide and seemed to be the perfect candidate. He was a youth minister at a Newtown church. He had part-time work at a summer camp. He helped children get ready for the FCAT at the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota. And those who knew Knowlin raved about his honesty, his creativity and his patience with children. Knowlin, 24, was hired this year by Wilkinson Elementary School but he abruptly resigned on Tuesday — writing a letter to the principal and district officials that said he "violated" two teenage boys that he met at church. ...more

May 22, 2008

AVON PARK — As a recovering alcoholic, Pastor Bill Breylinger, with Union Congregational Church, knows what it's like to have life restored. Twenty-two years ago, at the age of 37, he felt God gave him back his life. At the time he knew he was dying, and if he didn't tell someone his problem, he wouldn't make it. He then got honest with himself and went through a six-week treatment facility. Breylinger says God and lots of people forgave him and believed in him. "I owe God for the rest of my trip through life." Excited and dedicated, he especially enjoys ministering to hurting people, and his heart is in restoring lives. In 1987 he came to the church as a youth pastor. A year and a half later he became senior pastor. With a part-time secretary and janitor at that time, the church has grown and now has an assistant and associate minister, a music minister, a youth minister and an assistant youth minister. ...more

December 24, 2007

Renee Bunts' first reaction to Crossover Community Church wasn't positive. ...more

December 22, 2007

Different generations drawn to the hip-hop ministry at Crossover Community Church see it changing lives and fueling a national movement. ...more

December 20, 2007

SEBRING — While their families enjoy turkey dinners today, 18 youth from First United Methodist Church are feeding 5,000 people in the Bahamas. Rick Heilig, youth minister, said the feeding of 5,000 is a reference to the Gospel, in which Jesus blessed five loaves of bread and two fish and it fed 5,000 people. The youth will be feeding turkey, ham, rice, green beans and fruit cocktail at various churches and sites throughout Freeport, Bahamas. "This is the first time we have done a feeding, but we felt it was important to focus on food and hunger," Heilig said. ...more

November 22, 2007

Two elementary schools typified the variety of presentations that went on throughout South Shore last week during the Great American Teach-In. ...more

November 21, 2007